The French Open main draw is all set to begin, with the top players in the world putting on a show at Roland Garros over the next two weeks. However, we can’t forget the fact that a few prominent names will be forced to miss the second Grand Slam of the year. The 2026 French Open has several notable ATP Tour absences confirmed, more than on the WTA Tour, and it will certainly be felt at the tournament. Here we take a look at some big names who will miss out on competing in Paris.
Carlos Alcaraz
If he was healthy, Carlos Alcaraz would have been the biggest favorite to claim another back-to-back title at Roland Garros. However, the Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a lingering right forearm injury that flared up during the spring clay-court swing after his first round match in Barcelona. His absence leaves Jannik Sinner as the clear favorite, although it’s still a massive blow to the tournament’s star power.
Alcaraz has a stellar clay court record with two French Open titles, but the 23-year-old has opted for caution to ensure he is fully fit for the upcoming grass-court season and his title defense at Wimbledon.
Arthur Fils
Arthur Fils had to pull out of his home Grand Slam due to a prolonged recovery from a stress fracture in his back. The 21-year-old missed the Australian Open earlier this year for the same reason.
In a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Fils spoke about his situation: “I wouldn’t be able to play here this year. It’s a shame, I’m sorry. In Rome, I felt discomfort in my hip, I didn’t want to take a risk. Afterwards I had tests, it was okay, but I still had pain, I wasn’t able to train. My practice this Saturday morning (against Jiri Lehecka) was the first time I played points in two weeks.”
Lorenzo Musetti
Italian standout Lorenzo Musetti will not compete in Paris this year due to a thigh injury sustained earlier this month. Musetti sustained the injury during his match at the Italian Open in Rome, forcing him to undergo several weeks of necessary rest and recovery.
Musetti’s clay-court-suited game will be missed at Roland Garros, where he famously pushed Novak Djokovic to the brink with a five-set epic at the 2024 French Open and a fourth-round clash at Roland Garros in 2021.
Holger Rune
Holger Rune is skipping the 2026 French Open because he is recovering from an Achilles injury sustained at the 2025 Stockholm Open and a recent knee setback. Although he underwent surgery last year, he opted to delay his return and focus on rehabilitation rather than rushing back for the clay-court season.
Jack Draper
British star Jack Draper also remains sidelined due to a knee injury. He aims to protect his long-term health and focus on his recovery for the grass-court season, following a string of setbacks earlier in the year. Because Draper had previously dealt with an eight-month sideline for a serving arm injury, his team decided that jumping straight into the clay was too risky. Before his withdrawal, he also had to retire mid-match during the Barcelona Open due to the same knee issue.
Sebastian Korda
Sebastian Korda withdrew from the 2026 French Open due to a persistent back injury he has been dealing with since the Miami Open. The American opted to skip Roland Garros and the preceding clay-court Masters events to focus on his recovery. Korda has a solid clay-court pedigree, reaching the fourth round in Paris in 2020, but he felt discomfort during his recent practice sessions and opted not to risk further damage ahead of the summer tournaments.
Veronika Kudermetova
On the WTA side, Veronika Kudermetova will miss the French Open as she is recovering from the surgery she underwent on New Year’s Eve. The 29-year-old has also been the subject of an ongoing investigation regarding her ties to sanctioned Russian sponsors, specifically the oil and gas company Tatneft, which has complicated her status and clearance at recent international tournaments. While she wrote in an Instagram post that she remains determined to return “stronger than before,” the European clay season has arrived before she could reach full match fitness or resolve her off-court hurdles.
Marketa Vondrousova
Former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova is not playing in the tournament due to an ongoing ITIA investigation following her refusal to undergo a doping control test. The Czech star, who reached the showpiece match in Paris in 2019, claims she experienced an acute stress reaction during the incident.
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Besides these eight, Paula Badosa is also missing the event after failing to qualify. The former world No. 2 has seen her ranking drop outside the top 100 in recent months, leaving her out of the main draw at Roland Garros, though she has already confirmed her impending return to competition. “I was spending so much energy battling my own mind, I’ve worn myself out so much these past few months, that in the third set my mind completely shut down,” Badosa shared about a recent match.
Meanwhile, France’s Varvara Gracheva and British talent Sonay Kartal have also been forced out of the draw similarly due to fitness issues.
